What the rules say
Since 3 October 2024 the NDIS Supports Transitional Rules have listed supports that generally are not NDIS supports. Several items on that list catch air conditioning and heating:
- Standard household items, appliances, tools and products
- Standard home repairs, home improvements and standard renovations
- Water, gas and electricity bills
- Electricity generators, solar panels, home batteries, and hot water and gas systems
- Pools, pool heating, spa baths and saunas
Why the NDIS treats it as a living cost
The NDIS pays for the extra costs of disability, not costs most households have. Heating and cooling are things every household deals with, so a standard air conditioner is treated as a day to day living cost, in the same group as a fridge or a washing machine.
Running costs are excluded too. Even if equipment is funded, the NDIS does not pay your power bill.
The narrow exceptions
If something is on the not NDIS supports list, the NDIA can only fund it through a replacement support determination. For standard household items, the Rules set three conditions. The item must:
- Be necessary to address needs arising from the impairment that got you into the NDIS
- Increase whole task independence
- Reduce or eliminate the need for a support worker or disability specific assistive technology
Where disability specific options fit
Some people's disability affects how their body controls temperature, for example after some spinal cord injuries or with some neurological conditions. If that is you, the conversation is about a disability need, not comfort. The Rules allow assistive products and home modifications that address disability related needs, and the extra cost of upgrading a standard household item to one with accessibility features.
Whether any of this is funded depends on your evidence and the reasonable and necessary test. The NDIA decides case by case and the bar is high, so expect to need a detailed report.
What evidence helps
- A report from your treating doctor explaining how your disability affects temperature regulation, and the risks if you get too hot or cold
- An occupational therapist's assessment of your home, what you have tried and why cheaper options such as fans, cooling vests or blinds are not enough
- How the support would reduce other supports, such as overnight monitoring or extra support worker hours
- Quotes, and a clear split between any disability specific part and standard items
Help outside the NDIS
Most states and territories offer energy concessions or rebates for people who need heating or cooling, or medical equipment, because of a medical condition. Ask your energy retailer or your state concessions service what applies to you. If you rely on medical equipment that needs power, ask your retailer about registering as a life support customer.
What may change
The government consulted from August to October 2026 on updated NDIS supports rules. The proposals include removing the replacement supports process and adding some items to the excluded list. These are not law yet, so check the current rules before you apply.